How apprenticeships support social mobility
Monday 3rd March 2025
In an article for the Yorkshire Post in its Business Voices section, Sophie Wilton, legal apprentice at Gordons explores how apprenticeships support social mobility.
Sophie joined the firm in 2021 as part of its pioneering Gordons Law Apprenticeship. This was the first legal apprenticeship of its kind in the UK when it was launched in 2011.
Apprenticeships are becoming increasingly prevalent amongst a variety of sectors, including the professional services.
These have allowed a number of young people to access a rewarding career path, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds who would not have previously considered a professional services career.
Sophie comments: “Apprenticeships are undoubtedly helping to enable social mobility where the firms are looking for raw talent, not factors such as what school you went to or what your parents do.
“The reality is, though, that if you are from a disadvantaged background, the school you went to and the challenging family situations you find yourself in can have a massive impact on future prospects.”
Sophie came from a disadvantaged background which included facing significant financial hardship and meant that pursing a legal career through university was not a viable option. It was following a conversation with a tutor at school when she first became aware of a legal apprenticeship.
Drawing on her personal experiences in the run up to becoming a legal apprentice at Gordons, Sophie discusses the role of apprenticeships and social mobility.
“My experience, and that of other young people I speak to from similar backgrounds, is there is still a big lack of awareness of apprenticeship opportunities within professional services,” Sophie added.
Discussing how firms and schools can leverage apprenticeships to support social mobility, Sophie comments: “My view is that firms need to be more proactive in how they reach young people in disadvantaged areas via the schools that serve them. The schools also need to be receptive to approaches from the firms so that they can come in and give talks and actively take part in careers fairs. At Gordons, I am part of a team working on this issue by talking to headteachers.”
She also discusses key considerations other professional services, not just law firms, can make when they want to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds through apprenticeships drawing on her own experiences.
“With disadvantaged applicants, it is likely they will have little direct exposure to other professionals within family or social circles. This was something that concerned me when applying and, for some applicants, it can leave them feeling isolated.
“Businesses should recognise this and consider providing extra insights to applicants. For example, this could be how to identify and describe transferable skills from your lived experience to the workplace.
“We should always encourage and support those with the right attitude, aptitude and determination to succeed to become the very best they can be, no matter what their background. This has been my experience so far at Gordons.”
You can read Sophie’s article online in the Yorkshire Post here (subscription required)
Application for the Gordons Law Apprenticeship are now open. To learn more and to apply, click here (application deadline 30 April 2025). For more information on what we look for in our legal apprentices, download the Apprenticeship Guide here.
